I am moving cross country in a few months and wondering the best way to tow my 1998 m3 automatic, flatbed or is dolly permissible??
Flatbed
I've done long distance towing with an E36 both ways.
It really comes down to what you're going to be towing it with. Understand that a flatbed trailer is HEAVY. It's common to have a flatbed car trailer that weighs 2000-2200lbs empty.
Really the flatbed is a better option if you can.
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
-Dr. Seuss
DIY BMW Tools. Charlie For President
Obviously a flatbed will be less wear and tear. If you can afford it, that's the best way to go.
If everything is in good shape, fluids are topped up (diff and tranny, obviously), and your brakes and wheel bearings are in good shape, dollying it shouldn't cause any undue wear and tear that driving it on the same trip wouldn't cause.
In either case, do not load it up as an extra storage space. If anything, you could use it to carry a few things that are fragile and need their own space.
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
-Dr. Seuss
DIY BMW Tools. Charlie For President
Flatbed for all of the reasons mentioned plus a dolly is miserable to maneuver in small spaces, you really can't back up a dolly with a car on it with any practical amount of control. Sure it can be done for short distances or in the middle of a field but negotiating crowded gas stations, rest stops, hotel and restaurant parking lots each day with the stress of not being able to effectively maneuver is just one more stress you don't need on your plate.
If you are limited by the capacity of your tow rig and need to go with a dolly, I would go ahead and pull the drive shaft out of the car for such a long trip. If you are driving the car and something in drive train is failing, you will hear and feel it but on the dolly you would have no idea that something is amiss until a lot of damage is done.
-Josh: 1998 S54 E36 M3/4/6 with most of the easy stuff and most of the hard stuff. At least twice. 271k miles. 1994 E32 740il with nothing but some MPars. 93k miles.
Flat bed is great....as long as you can drive up the ramps.
I have a featherlite trailer, but the ramps don't like my front lip...so to get it on I either need a couple 2x12's or I take the bumper off.
If you're renting one, expect similar (depending on your height/etc)
Last edited by Moron95M3; 03-28-2019 at 10:10 AM.
The level of effort to pull the axles vs driveshaft would depend on the car and whether either have been serviced recently. The first time I pulled my driveshaft, it was miserable to get the exhaust off due to the header to mid pipe studs but getting the axles pushed through the rear hubs were just as difficult. Either job would be a relative breeze now, I think the driveshaft would be a bit quicker. The wheel bearings bearing to spindle to hub is pressed so tightly together that you would probably be just fine without it but the axle does secure the hub in place and I wouldn't pull the car across country without an axle stub in place.
I can imagine a scenario where the tow vehicle breaks down and how frustrating it would be to have a perfectly operable car at hand minus a piece of the drivetrain.
I’d seriously consider just shipping car with a car hauler...
No matter where you go, there you are...
Man, there's a reason I do all my own work. I don't valet my car. I would never ship it, but it might be a good solution if you trust other people with your car.
These are all great points. And honestly, the backing issue is the real problem. It's wouldn't be THAT much wear to really justify disconnecting things unless you're really anal - at which point the flatbed long ago was the right choice.
...
Honestly, the flatbed is the right choice.
Yes, I understand working on your car. But... Unless you have a really good tow rig (say a full size truck with a big, tow rated engine, trailer brake controller), life will be miserable.
And there are a lot of enclosed car haulers that carry a LOT of really expensive cars... Yes, it cost money, but sometimes it's worth it... (Horseless Carriage, Reliable, InterCity..)
If you are moving for a job, it's deductible too.
No matter where you go, there you are...
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
-Dr. Seuss
DIY BMW Tools. Charlie For President
My E32 owners manual says: cars with automatic transmission: select lever at N, max. towing speed 50 kmh/31 miles/h, max towing distance 50 km/31 miles. To tow the car for greater distances, add 1 liter of ATF to the trans or remove the propeller shaft
Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!
Wait, what?
Hehe, yeah, someone else also pointed this out. I obviously didn't really think that idea through as well as I should have. I don't even know how you'd get it up on a dolly without power. If you can afford a dolly that nice, you can afford a crappy flatbed.
Shogun's comment from the e32 manual makes me think that using a dolly is somewhat less than OK.
I've towed with a moving truck before, and while it's anything but fast, it works.
-Josh: 1998 S54 E36 M3/4/6 with most of the easy stuff and most of the hard stuff. At least twice. 271k miles. 1994 E32 740il with nothing but some MPars. 93k miles.
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Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!
Not to offtrack but if you're having trouble hitting the nose when you're pulling onto the trailer, use the tongue jack to raise the front of the trailer (while connected to the tow vehicle of course) which lowers the rear of the trailer and therefore the ramps.
I had to really crank the tongue jack for this, and still had to use some wood on the ramps to help clear the front bumper. I'm not even that low, H&R sport spring ride height. This is using the U-Haul full car trailer. In case people in the future are using this trailer with these or any car; the wheel fender on the trailer hinges down. Do this BEFORE loading your car so you can get in and out of the car without forgetting and denting your drivers side door.
Last edited by Hova; 04-02-2019 at 01:05 AM.
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
-Dr. Seuss
DIY BMW Tools. Charlie For President
Yeah. Those u-haul trailers have a pretty steep "angle of attack". Also, built like a tank and probably weigh about the same.
I pulled an E30 automatic on a dolly a couple hundred miles, backwards..
Put the rear wheels on the dolly, lock the steering wheel straight, ratchet strap on the steering wheel to keep it straight, go..
Probably would have to take the front bumper off the E36 though..
E36 M3 S50 - E53 X5 M54 - 1980 Porsche 931 - 2001 Impreza RS25
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